Creation is the Blessing! Let’s care for her….
Greetings, my friends!
Creation is the Blessing! Let’s care for her….
On 4 October the Church celebrates the Feast of St Francis. We here at Holy Spirit will remember him as we do the “Blessing of Animals” during the 5:00PM Service this Sunday. I have been associated with the Franciscan movement and Franciscan communities since high school. I love the Spirit of Francis and Claire of Assisi and have spent much of my life studying and attempting to emulate that spirit in my day-to-day life and in my prayer.
The radical nature of Francis of Assisi is often misunderstood and diminished . Francis understood that the animals are the blessing, their presence in our lives is a representation of God’s presence to us. What we need to do is not bless the animals them but stand together in God’s blessing that comes to us through them. Francis is the Patron of Ecology. His contemplative life and prayer was given to a deep desire to see, experience and find God in all creation. Our ongoing and radical care for Creation is the best way to honor Francis and to bless and thank our God. Living in good relationship with all creation, showing love and deep concern for our “Sister Mother Earth” and for Each Other is the best way to remember Francis and Claire and to continue to honor our Creator. We have much work to do to insure that all who come after us can do the same.
Peace and Good.
Fr. Bob